REQUESTING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR COORDINATION OF THE VARIOUS REGIONAL HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PLANNING COUNCILS.

WHEREAS, in recent years several departments of state government have established planning and coordinating councils for various health and human services programs; and

WHEREAS, these planning councils are important in the delivery of health and human services; and

WHEREAS, the department of health has been the most vigorous proponent of local planning councils; and

WHEREAS, the department is currently involved in the development of mental health regional coordinating councils; and

WHEREAS, the efforts of planning councils can overlap and duplicate one another, resulting in confusion and inefficiency;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health assume responsibility for the coordination of the efforts of the various health and human services-related planning councils within state government in order to foster geographic and inter-departmental consistency in regional planning; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the human services department, the children, youth and families department, the state agency on aging, the governor's committee on concerns of the handicapped, the developmental disabilities council, the brain injury coordinating council, the state maternal and child health council and the various other departments, agencies and councils in state government cooperate with the department of health in these planning coordination efforts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of health report its progress in this effort to the legislative health and human services committee by September 15, 1999; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be sent to the heads of the various entities named above and that the department of health further circulate this memorial to any other health and human services-related planning bodies.